Treated with ivemectin and still dandruffy.

[KjerstiMoo]

I've recently had my four piggies treated with ivemectin after a probable mites diagnosis. The vet couldn't see anything in the microscope, but scratching and bald patches were symptoms enough to treat them.

But they're still dandruffy. And scratching. Can it possibly be that the ivemectin didn't help? Or may it be some other reason to my piggies problems?
Anyone had the same experience?

[WEAVER]

Have they been treated for mites 3 times within a 7-10 day period? If they have'nt that is why they are still itching. The adults were killed with the first treatment, but now the eggs have hatched and it has started all over again.

[KjerstiMoo]

Yes, they had their third treatment two weeks ago.

[C&K]

Sometimes it takes 4 treatments. I would suggest going back for one more, or doing it at home. If Indeed it is still mites and you need a fourth treatment, the last was still only 14 days ago, so a new infestation off the third treatment should be manageable with the extra treatment, even though it is not the ideal 10 days apart.

Alternately, dandruff is a sign of a fungal infection, it is possible they had both mites and a fungus. I would suggest a vet visit and treatment with Nizoral shampoo. I think I remember hearing that Nizoral has a prescription version that is better to use. I am sending my husband to the doctor to get some for his head next week!

[KjerstiMoo]

I have a new vet appointment tomorrow. The teddy, Lilo, also has a wheezy breath again, so I want to have that treated. She was treated for it with vibramycin last summer, and somehow it has returned now. So, having a thorough check-up tomorrow and hopefully we'll figure out what it is. I'll mention the fungus-possibility to the vet though, but I dunno if we have Nizoral here in Norway.

[C&K]

http://www.nizoral.com/vcrc/drugfact...poo_110900.pdf

The above link is a large label for the shampoo. If you don't have the brand Nizoral, the active medical ingredient is Ketoconazole 1% Try calling or visiting a drugstore people pharmacist today to see if you have this available, or if it is a different brand or requires a prescription.

The wheezy breath concerns me, is it a URI? Tomorrow might be to late...

[C&K]

http://www.guinealynx.info/antifungal_agents.html

I just found a list on other antifungal agents on GL.

[KjerstiMoo]

Originally Posted by Cavies-and-Kids

The wheezy breath concerns me, is it a URI? Tomorrow might be to late...

She has no other symptoms except the wheezy breath. She eats, poops, popcorns and bosses the others around. But I will ask the vet to examine her thoroughly since this is the second time within a year that she has this.

[Ly&Pigs]

Have the vet check for heart issues too. Sometimes recurrent URI's can indicate heart problems.

[KjerstiMoo]

Just got back from the vet. She put Lilo on Baytril this time, instead of vibramycin. I'm a bit worried it'll upset her tummy, but she didn't have any problems with the vibramycin. She's also eating properly and just being... normal, not at all acting out of it. So crossing my fingers.

We also decided we would give the pigs two more doses of ivermectin by injection, because the two first they had were topical and didn't seem to have any effect. They had their third dose by injection and they seem a little better, but not fully.
But if they still haven't gotten rid of the dandruff/loss of hair by the last dose, we will see a gp expert. The vet had a couple of recommendations, only problem is they're far away and extremely expensive. Which would be a problem right now, seeing we have to shell out 2000$ to get our car fixed. We don't usually have problems paying for the vet, but right now... *deep sigh* So I'm really crossing my fingers that Lilo feels better soon and that they get rid of the unwanted petpets.

[nonamian_girl]

When I treated for mites, I noticed that they were still scratching and a little dry-skinnned for a little while afterwards too. I think the scratching just seemed excessive because I was looking for it, and the dry skin was just because of dry apartment heat. EVentually it just got better on its own.

Good luck, I hope Lilo gets better!

[KjerstiMoo]

Just a little update on the progress and a question about fungus treatment.

Because this is the second time Lilo is wheezy, we're changing the bedding. We're going to try out fleece and see if that works for us. It should be less dusty and probably less irritating for her lungs.

I also found the norwegian equalent to Nizoral at the pharmacy today. It's called Fungoral here, in case any other 'wegies are wondering.
But the instructions on it said bathe twice a week for 4 weeks, and that seems a lot to me. How often and for how long should guinea pigs be treated with this? I'm not going to do it now anyway, I'll wait to see if the ivermectin works. Besides, it's not warm enough here yet to bathe my piggies that frequently.

[C&K]

But the instructions on it said bathe twice a week for 4 weeks, and that seems a lot to me. How often and for how long should guinea pigs be treated with this? I'm not going to do it now anyway, I'll wait to see if the ivermectin works. Besides, it's not warm enough here yet to bathe my piggies that frequently.

That does sound excessive. You can blow dry them with a hair dryer after the bath. I had to bath a couple of my long hairs a few weeks back and that is what I did. If I left them wet they would have been damp for probably almost a day.